Best non-X-fi sound card?

[ManGuy]

I want to get a new soundcard that is not an X-Fi or Creative one. Any recommendations on one?

[Sam1990]

Re: Best non-X-fi sound card?

Asus Xoner, something along those lines.

[ManGuy]

Re: Best non-X-fi sound card?

I checked it out and that thing is really good looking (hawt) and has a lot of features that are awesome, looks like something to get, thanks for the help.

[Eagle101]

Re: Best non-X-fi sound card?

I read in a thread that Alex recommend the Xonar, anything that is "Alex Recommended" is a certified product of awesomeness :)

[=98=]

Re: Best non-X-fi sound card?

Well, the Asus Xonar DX is the cheaper version and not as feature rich as Asus Xonar D2. However, the price shows this.

[Kradath]

Re: Best non-X-fi sound card?

But it does only support up to eax2?

[=98=]

Re: Best non-X-fi sound card?

No, it emulates EAX5/HD by converting the code on the fly into something it can read.

The popularity of multi-core processors (and more importantly, games that leave multiple cores unused) has lessened the need for hardware-accelerated 3D audio, but there's still a big gap between EAX 2.0 and 5.0. Asus bridges that gap with a software feature it calls DirectSound 3D GX 2.0, which is capable of emulating EAX 5.0 functionality that had previously only been available with Creative's X-Fi cards.

[[USAC]S|Cpl.TinFoil]

Re: Best non-X-fi sound card?

Read this thread over here. Scroll down to hobbes_fan's first post and start from there.

[Flt. Sgt. Powderhound]

Re: Best non-X-fi sound card?

I'm intending to get this card, having been put off by Creative's crap drivers, so I'll let you know in due course if you're willing to wait.

[ManGuy]

Re: Best non-X-fi sound card?

Thanks everybody, after reading everything I think that for me, a Xonar DX would be good. And for anybody wondering, there was a test done to see the difference in DirectSound 3D GX 2.0 and EAX 5.0 and no difference was found.

I'm intending to get this card, having been put off by Creative's crap drivers, so I'll let you know in due course if you're willing to wait.

That would be great, I wouldn't get it for a while anyway so thank you. :thumbsup: